interpersonal skills

plural noun

: the ability to communicate and interact with other people in an effective and friendly way : people skills
Professionally, William had a reputation as a dynamic leader with strong interpersonal skills—the kind of executive who made people feel valued and heard, leading with curiosity and fostering a collaborative approach.—Monica Wiant
Sports participation … encourages social interaction, which can help children develop their interpersonal skills and provide opportunities to build lifelong friendships.—Chicago Daily Herald
compare soft skills

Examples of interpersonal skills in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The cast says director Mengel brings together technical and interpersonal skills, with the willingness to give his cast the space to explore. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 Her new strategy is to use her undergraduate studies to build critical thinking and interpersonal skills — areas where humans still have an edge. — ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 If anything, as processes become more automated, the importance of interpersonal skills becomes even more pronounced. — Niurys Robaina, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026 Ike demonstrated great executive ability in supervising the enormous planning and brilliant interpersonal skills that welded and held together the most diverse military alliance in history. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for interpersonal skills

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interpersonal skills was in 1994

Rhymes for interpersonal skills

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Browse Nearby Words

interpersonal
interpersonal skills
interpetaloid
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Cite this Entry

“Interpersonal skills.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interpersonal%20skills. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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